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blocks together while in orbit, and to deliver experiments, supplies, and crews to the completed station. This means that the modules must be designed to fit inside the shuttle, that the shuttle must be able to dock with the station (both during its construction and after its completion), and that the station must be built by astronauts using the shuttle's robot arm or EVA construction techniques. It will probably require approximately 7 Shuttle flights to build the infant Station.
The design must be flexible, so that the station can be enlarged, improved, and upgraded.
Much of the Space Station technology will be similar to current Shuttle technology, but some new technologies will be necessary: for example, the station should incorporate a closed bio-system, and will require an improved power generation system. And improved hygiene facilities.
We'we learned things about living and working in space as a result of our experiences in the Skylab and Shuttle programs. One important precept is that we should not design things to be "like they are on Earth", but to be most usable in a weightless environment. There are other elementary lessons to be learned from our experience with the Shuttle. For example, the Shuttle was not originally intended to be repaired on-orbit...that capability was added as an afterthought just before STS-1, but has since mushroomed, and turned out to be one of our most useful